The Stanford Prison Experiment was a social psychology study that took place at Stanford University in August 1971. The experiment was intended to measure the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. The experiment was led by Philip Zimbardo, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.
Twenty-four healthy male students were randomly assigned to the roles of prisoner or guard in a mock prison located in the basement of Stanford’s psychology building. The guards were instructed to maintain order in the prison, while the prisoners were instructed to follow the guards’ instructions.
The experiment was supposed to last for two weeks, but it was terminated after only six days due to the escalating abuse of the prisoners by the guards. The guards had become increasingly authoritarian and sadistic, while the prisoners had become increasingly submissive and emotionally distressed.
The Stanford Prison Experiment is a famous example of how situational factors can influence behaviour. The guards in the experiment were ordinary college students who were randomly assigned to their roles. However, they quickly adopted the role of prison guard and began to behave in an authoritarian and abusive manner. This suggests that the situation, rather than the individual’s personality, can play a significant role in shaping behaviour.
The Stanford Prison Experiment has been criticised for its ethical shortcomings. Some critics have argued that the experiment was unnecessarily cruel to the participants, and that the guards were not adequately supervised. However, Zimbardo and other researchers have defended the experiment, arguing that it was important to study the psychology of prison life.
The Stanford Prison Experiment has had a significant impact on the field of psychology. It has helped to shed light on the role of situational factors in shaping behaviour, and it has been used to train prison guards and other professionals who work in high-stress environments. The experiment has also been the subject of numerous books, articles, and documentaries.
Here are some of the key findings of the Stanford Prison Experiment:
*Situational factors can have a profound impact on behaviour.
*People are more likely to conform to the roles they are assigned, even if those roles are negative.
*Power can corrupt, even ordinary people.
*The abuse of power can have serious psychological consequences.
The Stanford Prison Experiment is a complex and controversial study, but it has provided valuable insights into the psychology of power and authority. The experiment continues to be studied and debated by psychologists and other scholars today.